January’s YA novels will take you back in time, to far away lands, and across the universe. The debut month of the year brings Eilis O’Neal’s debut novel, THE FALSE PRINCESS (Edgemont, 25 January). I was lucky enough to get to read this one ahead of time, and I loved the storytelling voice, which was both effortless and engaging.  Sinda has been raised as the princess of Thorvaldor, but learns that she’s really a commoner switched an infant to protect the true royal from a prophecy of assassination. She’s whisked away from her palatial digs, but is soon drawn back to the capital city when she discovers a plot that threatens to the entire kingdom. I caught up with Eilis to ask her about writing THE FALSE PRINCESS. RCM: Though it’s an original story, there is a definite fairy tale feel to THE FALSE PRINCESS. What inspired you to write it? Eilis O’Neal: The idea for THE FALSE PRINCESS came in one of those lightning bolt moments. I was at work, and suddenly I was scribbling down the title and the idea that it was about a girl who has grown up thinking she was a princess, only to find…

Three Kisses Trilogy #2 January 2011 On Sale: January 4, 2011 Featuring: Stevie Baci; Jacques Parini 304 pages ISBN: 0425239179 EAN: 9780425239179 Paperback $7.99 Add to Wish List Romance Contemporary Buy at Amazon.com Then He Kissed Me by Christie Ridgway What could Tanti Baci’s tomboy have in common with a royal prince? Oh, that… The three Baci sisters are on a mission to save the family winery by transforming it into a wedding destination. When Stevie Baci playfully names her own side business Napa Princess Limousine, she never dreams she’ll be driving a real prince around Napa Valley. Jacques Parini, aka “Jack”, is looking to expand his family’s wine interests. But after kissing Stevie, he finds this California girl in a black chauffeur’s hat does more than drive him crazy. A fun addition to the romantic Three Kisses trilogy. Excerpt “So who’s the other guy?” Stevie’s friend Mari asked, as she slid into the passenger seat of the waiting limousine. “Uh . . . other guy?” “Tall, dark, and dashing?” her friend qualified. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.” She’d noticed. From the moment he’d stepped out of the resort. But tall, dark, and dashing didn’t make up for rich,…

Music is one of the keys I use to unlock the heart of a character. I don’t listen to music when I write, but when I’m driving or cooking the tunes are always cranked. There are times when the melody and the song’s emotions strike a cord that reminds me of one of my characters. I can’t explain why a song works, but I know when it does. Eva Rayburn, my heroine in SENSELESS was a tough character to get to know. In SENSELESS she is closed and guarded and only reveals herself to the hero and others in the book very carefully. Without even realizing it, I started to notice songs that were “hers.” Songs and playlists are so personal and so I decided to create a playlist for Eva. After I bought the songs, I made my own CD and when I was having trouble with an Eva scene, I’d listen to the CD. The songs unlocked emotions I couldn’t articulate at first. But once I felt the emotions through the songs, I could create the right scene for Eva. So what were the songs that caught my attention while I was writing SENSELESS? Eva’s Playlist Second Chance…